Bi-pin base and socket



June 23, 97 H. A. J. DE vos ET AL 3,517,372

BI-PIN BASE AND SOCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1967 FIG. 2

FIG

HENDRIK A, J. de vos JULIAN J. WIERZBICKI INVENTORS all H14. ATTORNEY June 23, 1970 H. A. J. DE vos ET AL 3,517,372

BI-PIN BASE AND SOCKET Filed Dec. 13, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HENDRIK A. J. de VOS JULIAN J. WIERZBIOKI INVENTORS A34 PM ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,517,372 BI-PIN BASE AND SOCKET Hendrik A. J. de Vos, Wenham, and Julian J. Wierzbicki,

Peabody, Mass., assignors to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 690,321 Int. Cl. H01r 13/54 US. Cl. 339-91 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A single-ended lamp and socket arrangement in which the press-seal portion of the lamp is potted within a metal cannister and wherein the lead-in wires of the lamp extend outside of the cannister and into male prong connectors. The lamp is fitted in a socket having an aligning spring and lock on one side, the lock is provided to hold the lamp in the socket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to a base and socket structure for electric lamps or similar devices, and more particularly to an arrangement for a base of a vitreous envelope having a single, protruding fiat press-seal portion.

Certain types of high-wattage halogen lamps employ a so-called ribbon seal for the lead-in conductors. This seal utilizes a thin ribbon-like conductive strip splicing the lead-in wires at the press-seal portion of the lamp envelope. The press-seal is preferably formed with an I-shaped trans verse section and the ribbon-like conductive strips insure proper sealing of the lamp. The lead-in wires extend beyond the press-seal and are usually connected to a suitable base having a standard screw thread.

PRIOR ART In lighting applications for theatres, television and studio work, certain medium and high wattage lamps are utilized. The advancement of lighting in these fields demanded an increase in wattage to a point where they became increasingly large in envelope size. Not only was the lamp envelope oversized for the existing fixtures, but due to the tungsten filament evaporation an early discoloration of the envelope frequently occurred. Since color rendition and light output must be constant with such lamps, such discoloration was undesirable.

In recent years rapid advancements in tungsten-halogen lamps have been made. Such lamps utilize a smaller envelope and the halogen regenerative cycle reduces blackening. This regenerative cycle is well known in the tungsten-halogen lamp art. A halogen element, such as iodine or bromine, is present in the envelope and keeps the lamp clear. This regenerative cycle occurs through the halogen elements combining with the evaporated tungsten before it collects on the lamp envelope and the tungsten then being redeposited back on the coil. With the tungsten halogen lamp regenerative cycle, a close wall-to-filament arrangement is maintained thus substantially reducing the size of the lamp.

As first introduced, commercially, the tungsten-halogen lamps had a double-ended configuration with the filament axially suspended therebetween. From the genesis of these double-ended tungsten-halogen lamps, a single-ended, axially-aligned lamp was developed. These various wattages of lamps were interchangeable in a single fixture since they all had a standardized screw base.

However, with these lamps utilizing screw-type bases, in the single-ended halogen lamp where the filament is in alignment, when different wattage lamps were used, the filament center-to-base measurement would vary. Hence, the optimum reflectance from the reflector was lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In our invention, we have designed a lamp and socket which overcomes these disadvantages. Almost any singleended lamp can be used in this base and socket arrangement so that variations in wattages and life can be attained. An added feature of this invention is that a universal filament center to base relationship is achieved irrespective of the lamp size. Thus, various lamps are interchangeable in one fixture without sacrificing reflectance by displacing the filament center in relation to the reflector.

We also provide a standardized bi-prong socket for the lamps that can replace other existing socket arrangements. The socket provides an easy insertion and a unique snaplocking feature for the lamp with positive axial alignment. Theatres, television and studio lighting requiring these features can have unlimited access to various lamp wattages and life.

In the lamp and socket arrangement we have provided a single ended press seal lamp with rectangular canister having a detent hole. The contact lead-in wires of the lamp pass through and are insulated from the canister by a suitable insulated holder. The holder and the canister are cemented to the lamp base to make a unitary structure.

The based lamp is provided with a mating socket that has a cantilever spring node positioned within the socket that engages the hole in the canister. With this arrangement the lamp will be firmly held in the socket as well as properly aligned.

FIG. 1 is a view of the lamp and base structure with the component parts arranged in pre-assembled positions.

FIG. 2 is a view of the lamp socket of the invention with its related parts also in a pre-assembled position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a completed based lamp.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled socket arrangement.

FIG. 5 is an elevational front view of the lamp and socket in mating arrangement with part of the socket in section to more fully show the internal configuration.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the lamp and socket with the socket shown in cross-section shown in particular the spring detent holding means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the lamp and socket arrangement of our invention comprises a hermetically sealed vitreous envelope 10 which contains a coiled-coil tungsten filament 12 connected at its ends to respective lead-in conductors comprising inner and outer portions 14 and 16 respectively. The inner and outer, lead-in wires are separated in the seal area by molybdenum foil strips 18 which are hermetically sealed in spaced-apart relation in a compressed protruding seal portion 20, formed at one end of the envelope. The outer portions 16 of the lead-in conductors extend beyond this press-seal area 20.

The particular lamp shown is of well-known iodinecycle type Where during lamp operation a small amount of iodine vapor functions as a getter to combine with tungsten that is vaporized from the filament 12 onto the envelope wall to thereby form a tungsten iodide which migrates back to the vicinity of the filament, Where it then redeposits tungsten onto the filament and releases iodine for continuation of the cycle.

As viewed in FIG. 1 the lamp and base components are illustrated in a pro-assembled relationship. The main elements of the base structure are: tubular metal contact prongs 22, a ceramic contact holder 24 and a rectangularshaped metal cannister 26, having a hole 27 on both wide faces.

Each of the contact prongs 22 is provided with an enlarged node 28 midway on its length, this node is utilized as a limiting stop when the prongs are inserted into the bottom of the contact holder 24. When in place in the holder, the nodes 28 will abut against a restricted portion 30 in mating holes 32 of the holder 24. A flaring toOl is then brought into operation where the upper ends of the prongs passing through the holes 32 are flared thereby locking them in place.

This pre-assembled contact holder with prongs in place in then positioned within the cannister and the reduced portion 34 of the holder 24 will be allowed to pass through the bottom area of the metal cannister. The lamp 10 is then centered equidistant the sides of the cannisters where the outer lead-in wires 16 are located within the holder metal prongs 22. A suitable soldering or welding operation is then made to the lower ends of the prongs 22, fusing the lead-in wires 16 to the prongs 22. To completely dispose the lamp in the metal cannister 26, a potting cement is applied around the press seal area thereby separating the seal from the walls of the cannister.

A completed based lamp is shown in FIG. 3 showing in particular the relative position of the lamp 110 in the cannister 26 with the contact prongs 22 extending below the base.

A suitable socket for the above-described based lamp is shown in its pre-assembled arrangement in FIG. 2 and in its completed form in FIGS. 4, and 6.

Referring to FIG. 2 the body of the socket 40 of the preferred embodiment is of general rectangular configurations, similar to the shape of the cannister 26 of the lamp base. The base portion of the body member 40 is provided with wing extensions 42 having centrally located holes 44. One vertical face of the body member 40 has upper and lower relief areas 46 and 48 respectfully. The upper relief area 46 provides partial anchorage for a cantilever spring 50. An upper acute angled portion 52 of the spring 50 is hooked over a lip on the upper relief area 46 positioning the cantilever portion of the spring is located in the interior area of the body member. This can be clearly viewed in FIG. 6. The lower portion of spring 50 is also provided with a bent car 54 that is fitted in a notch 56 located adjacent the top of the lower relief area 48. The spring 50 is also provided with a dimple 49 located at the bow of the spring.

As viewed in FIG. 2 a pair of female tubular receivers 58 are electrically connected to a pair of wires 60. The receivers are adapted to fit into mating relief areas in the interior of a ceramic holder 62. When the receivers 58 are in place within the holder 62 each receiver is free floating and in line with spaced-apart holes 64 in the holder 62. The attached wires 60 also fit into relief guideways 66, thereby the receivers and wires are held within the outer limits of the holder. A bottom insulating cover 68 shaped to the identical perimeter size of the holder 62 encases the connectors within the holder 62. The holder 62 with the connectors 58 and the covered plate 68 are fitted within the socket receiver 40, part of the holder is held by the bottom relief area 48. The above-mentioned components are firmly held in the socket by an elongated cover 70 having holes 72, spaced and aligned to the holes 44. A suitable fastening means such as an eyelet 74 can be used to secure the cover 70 to the bottom surface of the socket body 40'.

As viewed in FIG. 4 an assembled socket is viewed, showing in particular the cantilever spring 50 in place and the wires 60 extending outwardly to a source of current for the socket.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 the lamp and socket are shown in engagement where in FIG. 5 one half of the socket 40 is cut away to show the details of the prong and receiver arrangement. The prong 22 of the lamp base is in electrical contact with the receivers 58 of the socket. A full cross-section of the socket 40 is shown in FIG. 6, showing in particular one of the main features of the invention, where the dimple 49 of the cantilever spring 50 is in locked engagement with the hole 27 of cannister 26, thereby retaining the lamp within the socket. The cantilever spring 50 also serves to force the cannister and lamp back against the straight inner wall 80 of the socket body 40, insuring vertical coil alignment.

It is apparent that changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. It is our intent, however, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An electrical lamp and socket comprising:

a lamp of vitreous material having a press-sealed end portion covered by a metal cannister;

a first half of a locking means disposed on the outer face of said cannister;

a pair of metal conductive prongs insulated from said cannister and extending therebelow;

a socket larger in cross-secti0n than said canister having female connectors with its base;

an internal aligning means disposed within said socket;

a second half of a locking means disposed within said socket and adapted to mate with said first half;

whereby said lamp is aligned and fixedly held with said socket by the cooperative action of said aligning means and the second half of said locking means, and electrically connected by engagement of said prongs of said lamp to said female connectors of said socket;

said internal aligning means comprising a cantilever spring held at its outer limits in reliefs of said socket and the bow of said cantilever portion extending inwardly in said socket.

2. The lamp according to claim 1 wherein said aligning means comprises:

a cantilevered spring held at its outer ends in reliefs in said socket and the bow portion of said spring directed inwardly in said socket;

said first half of said locking means comprising a hole in said cannister and said second half of said locking means comprising a protruding dimple located on the bow of said cantilever spring, whereby said cannister holding said lamp is inserted within said socket where said protruding dimple engages said hole in said cannister thereby locking said cannister to said socket and;

said cantilever spring capable of urging said cannister against said perpendicular wall of said socket thereby aligning said lamp in said socket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,760,693 5/1930 Gustin 339- X 1,813,425 7/1931 Rosaire 339--145 X 3,156,511 11/1964 Zillmer 339-91 X 3,315,216 4/1967 Krupp et al. 339-145 2,791,755 5/1957 Hamrnell 339-256 X RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 339--145, 176' 

